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24 October, 2011
The ICEM’s Brazilian affiliate ABC Chemical Workers’ Union project called "The Chemical Industry in 2020 – A New Direction is Possible" launched earlier this year was finalized with an international conference from 26-28 September in Santo Andre with 150 union leaders, government officials, and business and civil society representatives attending.
The project’s main goal is to promote sustainable growth in the Brazilian chemical industry through social dialogue and decent work. ICEM’s Director of Industry and Corporate Affairs Kemal Ozkan was keynote speaker and the conference fostered many discussions toward achieving 2020 targets by the UN, as well as producing and using chemicals not harmful to human health and to the environment.
The event was also an opportunity to prepare the ABC Chemical Workers’ Union, together with social partners, for the UN’s Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) to be held in June 2012.
With topics covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions, the conference deepened and expanded a series of discussions in three parts with participation of workers, entrepreneurs, public authorities, and others. Another highlight was presenting the ILO report called "Restructuring the Brazilian Chemical Industry and its Impact on Employment and Social Dialogue."
Paulo Lage, President of ABC Chemical Workers’ Union, opened the meeting by citing progress made since the first round of discussions in June 2011, especially a joint agenda between the union and the Brazilian Association of Chemical Industry (ABRIQUIM). "Our industry has a terrible trade deficit which directly affects the jobs of workers, and only through debate and dialogue we will have a better world for everyone," said Lage.
Kemal Ozkan
At the conference’s opening, Ozkan presented a detailed overview of the world’s chemical industry, highlighting the prospects of growth in Asia, particularly China, which today is among the leaders in producing specialty chemicals industry.
Yasuhiko Kamakura, senior ILO specialist for the chemical industry, addressed another important topic – Social Dialogue in the Chemical Industry. He gave worldwide data on restructuring and the effects of social dialogue, contents of which are contained in the ILO study. He also addressed the trend of mergers in the chemicals industry, saying some four million jobs were lost between between 2000 and 2006 due to corporate integration.
The conference’s closing was made by Artur Henrique, the president of Brazilian national labour center, Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) and following, a proposed document was produced to strengthen the Brazilian chemical industry, which will be delivered by the unions and employers to the federal government.